USA and support for Kosovo

In June 2023, the United States of America and the European Union blamed the violent Serbian protests on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who authorized the use of police in late May to escort newly elected Albanian presidents to buildings. municipalities in the four Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo, using force if necessary. This fateful decision was taken without prior consultation with US and EU officials, and despite advice given on 18 May 2023 by the US, France, Italy, Germany and the UK not to induct elected presidents. in the buildings, for fear of trouble that could be created. Kurti's decision was seen as an act of provocation, as well as an obstacle to the EU-led and US-backed dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The international community was outraged. The ensuing Serbian violence resulted in the injury of 30 members of the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force, which had been called in to quell the violence. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said on June 2, 2023, that "These actions by Kosovo have sharply and unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermining our efforts to help normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia and will have consequences for bilateral relations with Kosovo."

An immediate sanction of the USA against the action of Prime Minister Kurti was the withdrawal of the invitation to Kosovo to participate in the joint military exercises "Defender 2023", which included the USA, NATO countries and its partners. This sanction represented a major blow to Kosovo's aspirations to join the EU and NATO. How did Kosovo end up in this dangerous position, where the USA, its main supporters and benefactors, is reluctant to reprimand Serbia, while at the same time strongly criticizing and punishing Kosovo? Despite the efforts of the emissaries of the European Union, despite a continuous parade of state leaders, diplomats, ambassadors, ministers, special envoys, rapporteurs, negotiators, foreign delegations and various other officials, the dominant point of impasse in the processes of normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo has always been the establishment of the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian Majority in the North of Kosovo. For Serbia and the Serbs in the north, the Association is a "sine qua non" condition. They want the Association to be given broad authority and executive powers. Kosovo has steadfastly refused to agree to an Association with comprehensive powers, as a clear violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US must offer itself, to guarantee that the Association will not take the form of Republika Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The USA has historically been a staunch supporter of Kosovo. Kosovo is a mature democracy in the Western Balkans, with a respect for the rule of law after the massacres committed by Serbia during the war. The war left over 10,000 dead, countless women raped as weapons of war, and an estimated one million refugees as a result of ethnic cleansing. The US led NATO's air campaign against Serbia to end the war and ethnic cleansing, and helped rebuild Kosovo. The US government has always provided significant financial, development and diplomatic resources. And it has always supported Kosovo in gaining recognition from other countries (now over 100 such countries), as well as supporting Kosovo's efforts to join international organizations, despite Serbia's continuous efforts to the opposite. And Kosovo has always shown its extreme gratitude for America's help and support, both in words and deeds. Kosovo continues to maintain the large US military base Bondsteel in Ferizaj. Kosovo volunteered to host hundreds of Afghan refugees while they are screened for security purposes, a program that is still in progress. Kosovo has opened an embassy in Jerusalem at the request of the USA. It has imposed sanctions on Russia for its unprovoked war with Ukraine, while Serbia has not done so. And during this time, many Serbs in the north, loyal only to Belgrade, as well as various gangs of organized criminals, constantly caused trouble, being able to operate with virtual impunity. The latest tragic incident happened just a few days ago. Although the US is now more inclined to appease Serbia in order to encourage it, at the same time, not to sink further into Russia's destabilizing embrace, President Biden and the US government should help Kosovo, by advising him to draft the program for the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian Majority in the North of Kosovo. By guaranteeing Kosovo that this mega release for the Association will not create a second Serbian Republic in Kosovo. The USA should support Kosovo at this very difficult moment for it and for the region, precisely in the name of American geostrategic interests, to prevent the escalation of Russian interests in the region. in order not to sink further into Russia's destabilizing embrace, President Biden and the US government should help Kosovo by advising it to draft the program for the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Northern Kosovo. By guaranteeing Kosovo that this mega release for the Association will not create a second Serbian Republic in Kosovo. The USA should support Kosovo at this very difficult moment for it and for the region, precisely in the name of American geostrategic interests, to prevent the escalation of Russian interests in the region. in order not to sink further into Russia's destabilizing embrace, President Biden and the US government should help Kosovo by advising it to draft the program for the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Northern Kosovo. By guaranteeing Kosovo that this mega release for the Association will not create a second Serbian Republic in Kosovo. The USA should support Kosovo at this very difficult moment for it and for the region, precisely in the name of American geostrategic interests, to prevent the escalation of Russian interests in the region. will not create a second Serbian Republic in Kosovo as well. The USA should support Kosovo at this very difficult moment for it and for the region, precisely in the name of American geostrategic interests, to prevent the escalation of Russian interests in the region. will not create a second Serbian Republic in Kosovo as well. The USA should support Kosovo at this very difficult moment for it and for the region, precisely in the name of American geostrategic interests, to prevent the escalation of Russian interests in the region.